Egg handling conveyer



July 27, 1954 ,R. c. SNEED EGGJJHANDLING CONVEYER 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledSept. '7, 1948 H m-Hwln -w IN V EN TOR.

M 6 M C M a 6 M y B mm M\\ July 27, 1954 R. c. SNEED EGG HANDLINGCONVEYER 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 7, 194a m m-Hlhmnw y 1954 R: c.SNEED 2,684,748

EGG HANDLING CONVEYER Filed Sept. 7, 1948 s Sheets-Sheet 5 F IE IEI IN VEN TOR. fiar/ C 5/7884 July 27, 1954 R. c. SNEED EGG HANDLING CONVEYERFiled Sept. 7'. 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 July 27, 1954 R. c. SNEED EGGHANDLING CONVEYER 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 7, 1948 m m-Hlhml Q\\Ill/l INVENTOR.

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July 27, 1954 R. c. SNEED EGG HANDLING CONVEYER 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 FiledSept. 7, 1948 w M. M? r [y B Patented July 27, 1954 UNITED STATES rsrsur()FFICE EGG HANDLING CONVEYER Robert C. Sneed, Piedmont, Calif.,assignor to Safeway Stores, Incorporated, Oakland, Calif., a corporationof Maryland Application September 7, 1948, Serial No. 48,105

3 Claims.

This invention relates to egg handling and grading machines and isconcerned particularly with machines of this character which grade eggsby weight and deliver the same to predetermined stations depending upontheir weight 5 to facilitate their subsequent handling and packaging.

Eggs are customarily delivered to egg handling and packaging plants incrates with no attempt having been made to segregate them as to size orgrade. The eggs must be taken from the crates in which they aredelivered, graded by weight, candled, packaged and ultimately placed incontainers for delivery to wholesale and retail out lets.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an egg handlingmachine upon which eggs may be placed after having been removed from theoriginal crates in which they are delivered,

and which will grade the eggs by weight and deliver them topredetermined stations, depending upon their weight, at which stationsthey may be further handled for other operations.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a machine ofthe character described 5 in which breakage of eggs and handling of eggsis reduced to a minimum.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a machine of thecharacter described which,

is compact in size and requires the minimum of It is a further object ofthe present invention to provide a device of the character describedwhich will operate with any size of egg and which may be easily cleanedin the event an egg. happens to be broken.

Another ob ect of the present invention is to provide a conveyor devicewhich will handle any number of eggs of any size, which will center themlongitudinally and laterally and which will deliver them to a weighingapparatus. r0

0 Further objects and advantages of the present invention will beapparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of thesame as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine incor porating my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the machine shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the line 3--3 of Figure1;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the line 4-4 of Figure1;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the line 5-5 of Figure1; and

Figure 6 is an illustration of the weighing mechanism taken along theline 6-6 of Figure 5.

Generally speaking the machine consists of live units. The first unitconsists of a longitudinal or multiple file conveyor mechanism uponwhich eggs may be placed when they are taken from the crates in whichthey are delivered. lhe conveyor is designed to center the eggslongitudinally and laterally and to transport them from the point atwhich they are placed thereon to the second unit which is a transverseor single file conveyor.

The transverse or single file conveyor is positioned at one end of thelongitudinal conveyor and is adapted to receive eggs therefrom and feedthem one at a time to the third unit, the weighing mechanism.

The weighing mechanism is aligned with the transverse conveyor andconsists generally of a rotating turret upon which a plurality ofbalance scales are mounted which determine the weight of the eggsdeposited therein and which discharge the egg at a particular stationupon the fourth unit, the carry-off conveyor.

The carry-01f conveyor consists of a generally horizontal conveyoradapted to carry eggs from the place at which they are placed thereon toa candling and packaging station where an operator performs the qualitygrading operations and places the eggs in appropriately labeled cartons.

All of the first four mechanisms above described may be driven by asingle drive mechanism comprising a motor and a combination of gearboxes and drives. All of the units, that is the longitudinal conveyor,the transverse or single file conveyor, the weighing mechanism, thecarry-off conveyor and the drive mechanism may be mounted upon anysuitable framing or platform without departing from the spirit of myinvention or in any way altering the same.

The longitudinal or multiple file conveyor is generally supported by apair of vertical parallel side plates H and [2, which together withother parts, which will more fully hereinafter be described, form theframework for this machine.

Side plates II and I2 are maintained in upright spaced apartrelationship by an end plate I3 and a second corresponding end plate,not shown. Suitably journaled for rotation between the side plates H and12 are a plurality of cross shafts IS, H, which are driving shafts andother shafts, not shown, constituting idler shafts. Mounted on saidshafts near the ends of the same and adjacent the inner sides of theparallel side walls ll and [2 there are a plurality of sprockets it overwhich are reeved a pair of endless link chains 2! and 22, which areadapted to be driven by the sprockets i8 on the shafts i and ii, andwhich are adapted to be reeved over similar sprockets upon the idlershafts, not shown. Those portions of the link chains '2! and 22 whichform the upper runs are supported by identical parallel rails 23 and 24on side plates E2 and ii respectively while those portions of chains 2iand 22 which form the lower runs thereof are supported by the members 21and 28 suitably secured to side walls i2 and M respectively, as shown inFigure 4.

Rotatably mounted with respect to said chains 2| and 22 and extendingtherebetween I have provided a plurality of lateral members 29 which areadapted to be driven by the chains 28 and 22 and to be supported againstdownward movement by the rails 24, 25, 2'! and 28 respectively.

The lateral members 29 are spaced an equal distance apart from eachother and each of them is provided with a plurality of enlargedspherical portions 3! substantially as shown. The areas between adjacentbars 29 and adjacent spherical portions 31 provide a number of eggretaining nests or pockets serving to align the eggs laterally betweenthe adjacent members 29 and longitudinally between adjacent rows ofspherical portions 3!.

As eggs are placed upon the longitudinal belt 33 formed by the chains 21and 22 and the transverse rods 29, they are centered both longitudinallyand laterally and are adapted to be moved longitudinally with respect tothe machine toward the transverse conveyor mechanism previously referredto. The conveyor belt 33 so formed is moved intermittently orstep-by-step whereby a single row of eggs between adjacent rods 29 willbe delivered from the end of the conveyor 33 to the transverse conveyormechanism. When a row of eggs has been transferred to the transverseconveyor mechanism, the longitudinal conveyor 33 stops until thetransverse conveyor mechanism has cleared itself of the previouslydeposited eggs.

Immediately underlying the upper run of the multiple file conveyor belt33 thus formed I have provided a plurality of removable pans 35 whichare adapted to catch and retain any broken eggs and egg portions whichwould pass between the transverse rods 29 forming said upper run. Thedrawers 36 are mounted upon suitable guides suspended between the sidewalls ii and i2 and are adapted to be drawn through cooperating openingsin wall I i.

From the foregoing, therefore, it will be obvious that when eggs areplaced upon longitudinal conveyor belt 33, said eggs will be advancediromthe point at which they are placed upon said conveyor 33 to theopposite end thereof. It is obvious, also, since the sprockets l8 engagethe chains 2| and 22 that the belt will be advanced upon rotation of thesprockets I8 which in turn are caused to operate by rotation of thecrossshafts l6 and I1. The means for driving the longitudinal belt 33,and the means of timing its drive, will be more fully hereinafterexplained in connection with the operation of the driving mechanism forthe entire apparatus.

As is more particularly shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the transverse orsingle file conveyor mechanism lies at the extreme end of thelongitudinal conveyor heretofore described and is adapted to receiveeggs directly therefrom. As shown in Figure 3, the eggs are retained bythe transverse rods 29 and spherical portions 3i and are advanced byreason of the rotation of shafts iii and i? and sprockets l3 about whichthe chains 2| and 22 are reeved. As the eggs approach the end of theconveyor 33 the eggs will pass between a plurality of verticallongitudinally extending members 3'5. It will be noted that the members31 are of different lengths and staggered as indicated. The purpose ofthe members 31 is to further align the eggs which are retained betweenthe spherical portions 3| on the transverse rods 29. In the event any ofthe eggs being carried by the advancing longitudinal conveyor 33 are outof alignment, even though retained between any four of the sphericalportions 3|, the eggs will strike one of the extending members 31 andwill be gently moved to a position in which it will pass between them.Because of the staggered positioning of the members 3"? the eggs willfirst be straightened in one direction and then the other and will notengage two of said members 3? simultaneously which would result incracking or breaking of the egg. When the egg is in position, as shownparticularly in Figure 4, it is ready to pass between the verticalmembers 31, and over the end of the longitudinal conveyor 33 into thetransverse conveyor mechanism.

As the egg passes ofi the end of the longitudinal conveyor 33 it willfirst engage one of a plurality of small lip members ii! which will tendto trip the egg whereby it will adopt a substantially horizontalposition in the transverse trough M which is composed of a plurality ofhorizontal parallel longitudinal rubber covered rods 52 along which theegg is adapted to be rolled. The machine is so timed that when the eggspass from the longitudinal conveyor 33 between the members 3'! and on tothe trough 4i they will also pass between pairs of vertical pushermembers 43 which are stationary at that time and are aligned with themembers 3'5. The pusher members 43 are adapted to be moved transverselywith respect to the longitudinal conveyor 3? previously described, andto roll the eggs along the trough 4|.

The pusher members 43 are identical in form and each consists generallyof an egg engaging portion 44 and a base portion 45 which is secured attwo points 45 and Al, to endless chains 48 and 49 which are reeved abouttwo pairs of sprockets 5i and 52, respectively, mounted uponcross-shafts 53 and 54.

The chains 48 and 49 and the pusher members M together with thesprockets 5| and 52 and the cross-shafts 53 and 54 are mounted upon thevertical member 56 which is suitably secured to the frame work of themachine, and which is adapted to retain the transverse conveyingmechanism at a predetermined position with respect to the trough tl.

It should be pointed out that the sprocket 5| is driven by shaft 53which in turn is driven by the main driving mechanism of the machine ina manner to be hereinafter more fully described.

It is sufiicient to point out at this time, however, that the pushers 43are advanced step-by-step and are not moving continuously and that forevery row of eggs positioned between the transverse members 29 anddeposited on the trough 4 l, the pushers 43 will advance six stepswhereby (at this point it should be noted that the conveyor 33 holdsonly six eggs in each lateral row whereby the maximum number of eggsdeposited at one time upon the trough M is six), the transverse trough4| will be cleared before another advance step of the conveyor 33deposits another lateral row of eggs in the trough 4!. The six eggs, orlesser number in the event all of the positions between the sphericalmembers 3! were not occupied, is advanced one step, after which thepushers 43 and the eggs between them are halted. They are then advancedanother step whereupon the leading member 43 will be raised about theaxis of the shaft 53 and will permit the egg between it and thefollowing member 430: Figure 5 to pass over the end 58 of the trough i!on to the egg weighing mechanism. The remaining eggs and the pushers 63will remain stationary as the egg clears the end 58 of the trough ii.

The next step allows the following member 430. to likewise rotate aboutthe axis or" the member 5? and allow the following egg to likewise passover the end 56 of the trough ti on to the next succeeding basket of theegg weighing mechanism. When the last of the eggs which have previouslybeen deposited on the trough H has been moved from a position in linewith the eggs on the longitudinal conveyor 33 to a position at which itwill pass over the end 58 of the trough 4! upon the next advancing stepof the transverse pusher, then another row of eggs between adjacent rods29 will be advanced between the vertical members 31 and the stationarymembers 43 and will likewise adopt horizontal positions on the trough 4!and between the vertical members 43. In this way the transverse conveyorwill continue to deliver eggs over the end 58 of the trough M to theadvancing egg weighing mech anism.

As the eggs are advancing along the trough ii they will strike a trigger6G and will depress the same thereby actuating a switch mechanism 65which in turn will actuate a counting mechanism more fully disclosed inmy co-pending Ill) to the plate 10. On the outer face of the block itthere is provided a second'yoke Tl between the ends 11a of which thereis moveably suspended a basket 18 formed generally as shown. The bottomof the basket 78 is secured to a link 19 at 18a which in turn ishingedly secured to the yoke 16 at 19a. The points 16a, Ha, 78a and 59aform a parallelogram whereby the egg retaining basket 18 is maintainedin substantially the same relative position regardless of whether or notthe egg retaining mechanism as a unit is tipped.

On that face of the block 15 remote from the egg retaining basket 18, Ihave provided a pair of extensions BI and 82. It will be noted thatmember BI is threaded and is provided with a nut 83 which, in thisinstance, is off-center whereby once the same has been set or properlypositioned with respect to the member 8!, its own weight will prevent itfrom rotating and getting out of adjustment. Furthermore, on that end ofthe member 8! remote from the block '15 I have provided a dash potarrangement consisting generally of a cylinder 84 which is suitablyretained in an orifice in the base 19 and within which there is a bodyof liquid 86 and a piston and plunger arrangement 8'! which are hingedlyconnected to the member 8! at 88. The purpose of the dash potarrangement is to prevent the too rapid action of the weighing mechanismabout the axis 16a. The second piston 83 is merely to avoid splashing ofthe liquid 88.

The rigidly extending arm 82 is adapted to engage one of a plurality ofcam tracks which will be hereinafter more fully described.

Mounted on the upper end of the shaft l! I have provided a platform 98upon which are mounted four cam tracks 9|, 92, 93 and 84. Cam tracks 9!,92 and 93 are adjustable while cam track 94 is fixed and is notadjustable and is of suiiicient height to engage every arm 82 as itrotates about the shaft H.

The means for adjusting the cam tracks 9i, 92

and 93 are identical and consist of fixed tubular with the transverseconveyor as is shown in M Figure l. more fully in Figures 1, 5 and 6,the egg weighing turret is adapted to receive the eggs as they areejected from the tranasverse conveyor, weigh the eggs, and dischargethem at a predetermined point, depending upon their weight. The turretconsists of a circular base plate member 'Hl which is rotatably mountedupon a vertical shaft H which is suitably secured to the frame. Theplate H! is provided with a suitable hub 72 and an integral gear "53which meshes with a gear M driven by the central drive mechanism in amanner to be presently described.

Peripherally mounted about the plate "iii are a plurality, in thepresent instance [2, egg weighing baskets, each of which together withtheir cooperating mechanisms are identical. Therefore, only one of thesebaskets and its mechanism will be described in detail. The egg weighingapparatus consists of a block I5 which is pivotally mounted in a yoke 16at 16a which is secured Generally speaking, and as is shown members 95provided with slots 9?. Within the tubes 96 there is a piston 98 whichis provided with a lug 99 which extends through slot 91 and to which thecam track is secured. A threaded member lfll adapted to be rotatedwithin the tubular member 96 cooperates with the piston 88 and raisesand lowers the same with respect to the platform 90. It should also benoted that raising and lowering of the piston 98 raises and lowers thecam tracks 9|, 92, 93 to which the particular piston 9% is afiixed.

As the turret and its component egg weighing members rotate, the arms 82will engage the cam tracks 9!, 92 or at 93, or 95. As has previouslybeen pointed out when there is no egg in the egg weighing mechanism theshaft 82 will engage the cam track 94. However, when there is an egg inthe egg weighing basket 18 its weight will be sufficient to depress theegg weighing basket and to raise the arm 82 a predetermined distance,dependent upon its weight. Too rapid action of the basket is preventedby the dash-pot arrangement 84 previously referred to. As the weight ofthe egg swings the egg weighing basket Iii downwardly the arm 82 iselevated. However, the weight of the egg is balanced by the weight t3whereby, depending upon the weight of the egg in the basket 78, the arm82 will be elevated a predetermined amount. With a light egg, the arm 82is elevated only a slight amount whereas with a heavy egg the arm 82 israised a greater amount. It will be noted that because of theparallelogram arrangement of the yoke 79, yoke ll, the link 19 and thebasket 18, the center of weight of the egg, regardless of the weight ofthe egg, is always correctly positioned with respect to pivot 16a.Therefore, by a proper manipulation of the weight 33, one can gauge theeffect of a given weight upon the arm 82. Furthermore by operation ofthe threaded member I9! one can raise or lower the cam tracks 9|, 92 or93.

At this time it might again be pointed out that the purpose of thismachine is to separate eggs according to their weights. t will beappreciated that when a crate of eggs is delivered to the egg plant andto this machine, it may contain eggs of all weights. Generally speaking,there are four classifications of eggs, large, medium, small and.peewees. For example the large eggs are those eggs which weigh 1%;-ounces or over. Medium eggs are those eggs which weigh between 1 ouncesand 1%;- ounces, whereas the small eggs are those which weigh between 1ounces and 1 ounces. Eggs which weigh less than 1% ounces are calledpeewees and gener ally are sold in bulk and are not boxed. However, allof these eggs must be classified according to their weight and it is thepurpose of this weighing turret to weigh these eggs, and deposit them ata predetermined point dependent upon their weight.

In operation the cam track 9| is raised to a point at which it will beengaged by one of the arms 92 when its corresponding egg retainingbasket 78 has within it an egg which weighs 1%; ounces or more, and willnot be engaged by one of the arms 82 if the corresponding basket '39contains an egg of less than that weight.

As has previously been pointed out the heavier the egg the more it willtip the balance and raise the arm 82.

As the arm 82 engages the cam track 95 it will follow the track 9| andbecause of the shape of the track will be urged upwardly as the turretcontinues to rotate. When the arm 92 reaches the highest point em on thecam track 9|, the egg basket '18 will have been lowered to the lowermostpoint possible and will have lowered itself over the stationary members195 which are adapted to cooperate with and pass through open areas inthe bottom of the basket iii. The rigid members 35 will engage the eggand, as the basket 79 continues its downward movement the egg will becarried free from the basket 18 and will be caused to roll from themembers $95 by virtue of their downward slope. Thus the egg will bedelivered from the weighing turret to the carry-off conveyor at a pointdirectly opposite the high point 9|a of the cam track 9i.

By adjusting the adjusting means which raises and lowers the cam track92 one can raise or lower the leading edge of the cam track 92 to aposition at which it engages all of those arms 92 whose correspondingegg baskets 18 contain e gs weighing more than 1 ounces. Since all eggsweighing more than 1% ounces have previously been ejected by theoperation of cam track 9!, it is obvious that only eggs weighing between.1. 5 ounces and 1%;- ounces will be ejected by the action of cam track92. The operation of cam track 92 upon the arms 82 which engage it andthe ejectment of eggs from the cooperating baskets 73 is identical withthe previously described action of cam track 9| with the exception,however. that the eggs will be discharged from the 8 baskets I3 actuatedby cam track 92, at a different point than are those eggs which areejected from baskets actuated by cam track 9|. The point of ejection ofthese eggs is at a point opposite the high point 92a of the cam track92.

The action of cam track 93 is the same as has previously been describedand the same may be positioned by adjustment of the positioning member96 to which it is secured in order that that cam track will engage allarms 92 whose corresponding egg retaining baskets 18 contain an eggweighing more than 1 ounces. Since all eggs weighing more than 1% ounceshave previously been ejected by virtue of the action of cam tracks 9|and 92, it is obvious that the cam track 93 will act only upon thosearms 82 whose corresponding egg baskets 18 contain eggs weighing between1% ounces and 1% ounces. The operation of cam track 93 is the same asthe previously described operations of cam tracks 9| and 92 with theexception, however, that eggs ejected. from the baskets 78 by virtue ofthe action of cam track 93 are ejected at a point further along the pathof rotation of the eg weighing turret and at a position substantiallyopposite the high point 93a of the cam track 93.

In the event the eggs are of insufficient weight to raise the arm 82 toa point at which it engages one of the cam tracks 9|, 92 or 93, theywill be ejected from their baskets i8 by virtue of the action of the camtrack 9 which is fixed and which is designed to engage every arm 92regardless of whether the same has previously engaged one of the camtracks 9|, 92 or 93. In this manner all eggs which are received by theegg weighing turret are ejected therefrom, re gardless of whether or notthe cam tracks 91, 92 or 93 have become out of adjustment or whether ornot there has been a failure in the operation of the egg weighingmechanism to prevent the raising or lowering of the arm 92 previous toits engagement with the cam track 94. In all probability, however, sincethe eggs weighing more than 1 /4 ounces will have tilted theirrespective arms 82 to engage one of the cam tracks 9|, 92 or 93 the eggwill be a so-called peewee and will weigh less than the minimum of 1ounces.

It will be noted that each of the cam tracks 9|, 92 and 93 terminatesrelatively close to the high point of the following cam track wherebythe egg weighing mechanisms, once they are tripped, remain atsubstantially completely tripped position until they have cleared thehigh point 94a on the cam track 94. However, when the eggs have beenejected from the egg weighing baskets 19 and the arms 92 have passed thelast of the cams 9|, 92, 93 or 94, the baskets it return to their normalpositions and are advanced continuously to a point at which they areadjacent the end of the trough i! at which point they receive anotheregg to be weighed.

It is possible, though not probable, that an egg may not be ejected fromits basket '18 by the operation of one or more of the cam tracks 9|, 92,93 or 94. To provide against such a contingency, however, I haveprovided a brush member E98 which is rigidly secured to the frame of themachine and which engages every egg basket 18 as it rotates about theshaft H. In this way every egg is cleared from the basket which retainedit.

As has previously been pointed out the egg weighing mechanism, afterhaving weighed the eggs, deposits them upon an egg removal belt.

The egg removal belt consists generally of an endless belt arrangementformed of a pair of spaced parallel chains III and H2 which are. reevedabout a pair of sprockets H3 and H4 mounted upon a cross-shaft II 5. Atthat end of the chains III and H2 remote from the sprockets H3 and H4there is a corresponding shaft and sprocket arrangement, not shown,which retains the other end of the conveyor in raised position.

, The entire egg removal mechanism is suitably mounted with respect tothe frame and the shaft H5 and its companion, not shown, are suitablyjournaled within the framework.

Between the chains H I and H2 there are a plurality of parallel spacedrubber coated crossshafts II 8 which are spaced sufiiciently far apartto form egg retaining bars and yet are spaced sufficiently closetogether that an egg may not fall between any adjacent pair of thesecross members I I8.

The upper run of the conveyor member thus formed is adapted to move in adirection away from the egg weighing mechanism and thereby carry awayany eggs which are deposited thereon.

As is shown in Figure 1, I have provided three substantially parallel.longitudinal members I2l, I22 and I23 respectively which in effectdivide the carry-away conveyor into four parallel channels. Thoseportions of members I2I, I22 and I 23 which approach the egg weighingconveyor are, it will be noticed, adapted to be positioned and to berigidly retained in a predetermined position. As is more clearly shownin Figures 1 and 6, the adjustable extension of member I 2i is adaptedto form a barrier which begins at a point just beyond, in the path ofrotation of the turret, the point at which an egg would be ejected fromone of the baskets I8 by virtue of the action of cam track 3|.Therefore, any egg which is ejected from the egg weighing mechanism byvirtue of the action of cam track 3! will be deposited on the carry-awaymechanism at a position thereon between the side edge thereof and memberI2I. It will be noted further that the adjustable portion of member I22is likewise positioned at a point on the periphery of the egg weighingmechanism immediately beyond the eifective point 92a of the cam track92, whereby any egg which is ejected from the mechanism by virtue of theaction of cam track 92 will be ejected in advance of the barrier I22 andafter the egg weighing basket I8 has cleared the barrier I2I whereby theegg will be deposited in the channel formed by the barriers I 2| andI22. In the same manner the barrier I23 is adjusted to form a channelbetween it and the barrier I22 to receive all eggs ejected from themechanism by virtue of the action of the cam track 93. The remainingchannel, that is between the member I23 and the side edge of theconveyor, is adapted to receive all eggs ejected from the weighingmechanism by virtue of the action of the cam track 94 or the brush I08.In this manner it will be seen that the eggs which have been weighedwill be deposited upon the carry-away conveyor at a point between a pairof longitudinally extending members which form channels upon thecarry-away mechanism and in which channels eggs of a predeterminedweight will have been placed. The eggs are then moved by virtue of thecarryaway mechanism to suitable aprons or tables from which they may besubjected to candling .10 operations, boxing operations, etc. by anoperator.

As has previously been explained, the longitudinal egg carrier,transverse or single file carrier, rotating weighing turret andcarry-away conveyor are all adapted to be operated from a single drivemechanism.

The drive mechanism consists of an electric motor I33 connected to anappropriate source of electric power. On the driving shaft of the motorI have provided a pulley I3I and varispeed device I32 which is adaptedto cooperate with the V-pulley I3I.

As is known to those skilled in the art, the varispeed device I32operates in accordance with the belt tension upon the V-pulley I3I. Whenthe tension of the V-belt I33 is increased, the two sloping side wallsI3Iaa and I3Ib of the V-pulley I3I are urged apart thereby decreasingthe eifective diameter of pulley I-I3I with respect to the belt I33.When the tension upon the belt is decreased, the walls I3Ia and I3Ib ofthe pulley I3I approach each other and increase the effective diameterof the pulley I3I with respect to the belt I33. In order to increase ordecrease the tension upon the belt I33 as previously indicated theelectric motor I30 is suitably mounted upon a platform I36 which may bemoved laterally by the operation of the crank I 37 which operates thelead screw I38 upon which the platform I36 is mounted, therebyincreasing the distance between the pulley I3I and the pulley I43 aboutwhich the belt I33 is also reeved.

As shown in Figure 4 the pulley I40 cooperates with shaft -I4I, one endof which cooperates with the gear box I42 and, by means of a suitablegear arrangement, drives shaft I43 and gear 14. Gear I4 cooperates withgear 13 to cause the rotation of the turret I0. As has previously beenpointed out the rotation of the turret I0 is continuous.

The other end of shaft I4I cooperates with and drives gear box I46. Thegear box I46 is provided with suitable gears to provide step-by-steprotation of gear I41 which drives chain I48 which in turn drives thesprocket I43 keyed to the shaft I'I. As has previously been pointed outthe shaft I7 is provided'with sprockets 18 which are likewise keyedthereto and which engage the chains 21 and 22 causing operation of thelongitudinal conveyor 33. On that end of shaft I 3 remote from thesprocket I49, there is also a sprocket I5I which cooperates with a chainI52 which in turn drives a sprocket I53 on the cross-shaft I6. The twocross-shafts I6 and I! operate to drive the longitudinal conveyor.

The gear box I 46 also contains a gear train which is adapted to drivesprocket I3I in a stepby-step manner. Sprocket IBI through chain I62likewise drives sprocket I63, cross-shaft 53 and sprocket 5| instep-by-step manner. The relationship between the rate of drive of theshaft I43, the shaft I6 and the shaft 53 is as follows: The shaft 53 isoperated in a step-bystep manner by which shaft 53 stops and starts sixtimes to every advance of the longitudinal conveyor belt 33. The shaft53 stops and starts twelve times to every rotation of the shaft I43. Inthis manner it will be seen that the longitudinal conveyor will deliverone transverse row of up to six eggs into the transverse conveyor, allof which eggs will be moved from the paths of the following six eggsbefore they are placed upon the conveyor.

In other words, the egg marked A in Figure 4 will be advanced to theleft as shown in Figure 4 until it is at a position to the left of theegg marked B in Figure a before the following transverse row of eggsupon the longitudinal conveyor 33 is caused to pass from thelongitudinal conveyor to the transverse conveyor. While the six eggs arebeing advanced by the transverse conveyor the weighing turret is makingone-half a revolution and presenting six baskets l8 immediately adjacentthe lip 58 of the trough 4! to receive the eggs.

From the foregoing it is obvious that for ever twelve steps of thetransverse conveyor there will be two steps of the longitudinal conveyorand one complete rotation of the weighing device.

The carry-away conveyor may be driven by the same apparatus or may bedriven by a second motor. It should. be pointed out, however, that thespeed of the carry-away conveyor need not be in any predeterminedrelationship to the speed or movement of the other elements of thisdevice since the carry-away conveyor has only one purpose, that is, tocarry away the eggs from the point on the conveyor at which they aredeposited by the weighing turret to a position where they may bereceived by an operator. I have shown in the present instance asecondary driving unit, an electric motor Hi5, which drives a sprocketill and through a chain i2 2 drives a second sprocket H3 which in turnis suitably keyed to the crossshaft H5 which, as has previously beenpointed out, operates the carry-away conveyor. However, it is obviousthat the carry-away conveyor can be driven from the prime mover itswithout the use of the driving mechanism liil, inasmuch as no particularspeed or timed relationship is required between the carry-oil conveyorand the other elements of my device.

Operation of the machine may be briefly described as follows:

Electric motors Hill and iii) are connected to a suitable source ofelectric power. Motor E36 through pulley ifiii, belt 133 and pulley idscauses rotation of shaft hi]. ihis in turn, through gear box M2, shaftHi3, and gear use, causes the constant rotation of the weighing turret,as has previously been described, at a constant rate of speed which rateof speed is time-d with the other driven units of this machine.

Rotation of shaft it: also, through gear box Edli, drives shafts iii andll which advance the longitudinal or multiple file conveyor and drivessprocket it! which advances the transverse or single file conveyor.

The gear box Hit is provided with suitable gear trains which causeintermittent or step-by-step rotation of the sprockets Hi1 and lfil.However, sprocket it? advances only one step for each six steps ofsprocket ltl whereby the transverse or single file conveyor advances sixsteps for every advance step of the longitudinal conveyor.

Eggs are taken from the crate in which they are delivered to the eggpackaging plant and are placed upon the upper run of the longitudinalconveyor which it will be recalled, is formed of the transverse barswhich are provided with the spherical ports 3% which form egg retainingnests. Since the spherical members 3! are aligned both longitudinallyand laterally, they will align the eggs which are placed upon theconveyor both longitudinally and laterally. Assuming that suf ficienteggs are placed upon the longitudinal conveyor to completely fill thesame, it will be obvious that there will be a plurality of transverserows of eggs, each of which transverse row contains six eggs. Since thelongitudinal conveyor is advanced step-by-step it will also be obviousthat one transverse row of (or six) eggs will be transferred therefromat a time and at each step of the same.

When one transverse row of eggs is delivered from the longitudinal ormultiple file conveyor to the transverse or single file conveyor, theeggs will have passed between vertical members 31 which havestraightened the eggs within th nests created by the spherical members3|.

As has been previously pointed out the transverse or single fileconveyor consists of a trough ll along which the eggs are adapted to berolled by a plurality of pusher members 44. The pusher members M areadvanced by the rotation of the sprocket IEI through chain I62 andsprocket I63 in step-by-step manner. At the time the eggs are deliveredfrom the longitudinal or multiple file conveyor to the trough 4 l thepushers M are motionless and are aligned with the vertical membore 37.When the eggs have been deposited between the pushers A l the transverseor single file conveyor is caused to operate and will advance six steps,thereby clearing the trough 4| sufficiently for the next deposit thereonof another transverse row of six eggs from the longitudinal conveyor.

As the eggs are ejected from the transverse or single file conveyor overthe end 58 of the trough il they are deposited in egg weighing baskets18 upon the rotating turret iii. When the eggs are deposited in the eggweighing basket 18 their weight tends to overcome the effect of the me.ber 83 and to cause the entire egg weighing mechanism to pivot about thepoints We. The egg and the basket E8 holding the same will dro apredetermined amount, depending upon the weight of the egg, there-byraising the arm 82 which, upon further rotation of the turret, willengage one of the cam tracks 9i, 92, 83 or 9d. When the arm '32 engagesone of the cam tracks previously referred to, it will be furtherelevated causing a similar lowering of the basket it. As the basket 18is lowered the egg therein will engage members liiii and be lifted clearof the still dropping basket 18. As the eggs come to rest upon themembers Hi5 they will roll clear of the same by virtue of the fact themembers I05 are turned downwardly. After the egg rolls clear of themembers it? it will come to rest upon the carry-oil conveyor in one ofthe four channels thereof, depending upon the weight of the egg, as haspreviously been described.

I claim:

1. In an egg handling machine, an endless longitudinal multiple fileconveyor comprising means for aligning eggs thereon both laterally andlongitudinally consisting of a plurality of laterally and longitudinallyaligned substantially spherical members, and means for straightening theeggs thereon consisting of a plurality of alternately long and shortvertical fixed members which are adapted to'be engaged by the eggs andto urge the eggs into straightened position.

2. In an egg handling machine, means for aligning eggs both laterallyand longitudinally consisting of a plurality of laterally andlongitudinally aligned substantially spherical members, and means forstraightening eggs consisting of a plurality of alternately long andshort vertical fixed members which are adapted to be engaged by eggs asthey are advanced therebetween and to urge eggs into straightenedposition.

3. In an egg handling machine, an endless longitudinal conveyorcomprising means for 13 aligning eggs both laterally and longitudinallyand including a plurality of laterally and longitudinally alignedsubstantially spherical members, means adjacent the discharge end ofsaid conveyor for straightening eggs consisting of a plurality ofalternately long and short vertical fixed members overlying saidspherical members and which are adapted to be engaged by eggs as theyare advanced therebetween and to urge eggs into straightened position, atransverse conveyor for receiving rows of eggs from the discharge end ofsaid longitudinal conveyor, said longitudinal conveyor movingintermittently to periodically deposit a row of eggs upon saidtransverse conveyor, said transverse conveyor comprising a longitudinalsupporting surface for receiving said rows of eggs from saidlongitudinal conveyor, and means including spaced paddles forintermittently rolling said eggs along said supporting surface, thespacing between said paddles conforming to the lateral spacing betweensaid spherical members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,044,070 Mower Nov. 12, 1912 1,614,586 Anderson Jan. 18, 19271,891,807 Frost Dec. 20, 1932 1,954,164 Wyland Apr. 10, 1934 2,020,511McI-Ienry Nov. 12, 1935 2,070,980 Wyland Feb. 16, 1937 2,135,778 WylandNov. 8, 1938 2,178,203 Fausel Oct. 31, 1939 2,187,842 Rheinstrom Jan.23, 1940 2,436,534 Tolley Feb. 24, 1943 2,456,031 Spain Dec. 14, 19482,531,292 Page Nov. 21, 1950 2,598,905 Gill June 3, 1952

